Early Day Motion·EDM 1119

EQUALITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION HELPLINE

17 March 200943 Signatures

Primary sponsor

John McDonnell

LabourHayes and Harlington

Motion Text

That this House notes with concern the Equality and Human Rights Commission's proposal to cut 50 posts from the Helpline Advice Service and to close down its Manchester helpline team; believes that the decision is ill-timed with the number of calls to the Equality and Human Rights Commission helpline increasing due to the recession; further notes with concern that women, people from black and minority ethnic backgrounds, disabled people and carers will be particularly disadvantaged by the decision; and therefore calls on the Equality and Human Rights Commission to review its plans and to do more to promote the service so that those people already at a disadvantage are not further disadvantaged by such inopportune cutbacks.